Acetylene generator



G. M. DEMING ACETYLENE GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1953 INVENTOR A TTORN Y Patented Dec. 27, 1938 ginse- ACETYLENE GENERATOR George M. Demin East Orange, N. J., assignor .to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation ,of ,New York Application'September 22, 1933, Serial No. 690,560

11 Claims.

This invention relates to acetylene generators of the carbide to water type.

The invention relates more particularly'to that class of generators of -the carbide to water type, 5 in which a feed valve at the mouth of the carbide hopperis agitated by a means actuated by outflow of gas from the generator, to feed the carbide. The term valve is used in a general sense, since the feed valve may be said to include an element herein termed a feed plate and the mouth or spout of the hopper with which the feed plate cooperates. Either of these parts of the feed valve maybe agitated to effect feeding of the carbide. In the generators illustrated in' my Patents No. l,-969,12-'1,-dated August 7, 1934, and Nos. 1,967,293 and 1,967,294, dated July24, 3934, the feed plate is agitated, while in my Patent No. 1,970,225, dated August 14, 1934, it is the spout that is agitated.

The invention further relates to generators in which the size of the feed passage between the feed plate and the hopper mouth is regulated, by and in accordance with generator pressure, by raising and lowering of the feed plate, and in which the conformation of the valve is such, and the limit to which it can be moved away from-the hoppermouth'is such,that the feeding of carbide cannot occur in the absence of agitation.

Regular feeding of the carbide is-importantin order to insure continued generation of gas and to obtain a high quality of pressure regulation for the generator. Choking of the feed issometimes caused by bridging of the carbide. Bridging may occur at tWo different points; one oftheseis just over the spout or mouth at the bottom of the hopper, and the other is between the feeding plate and the hopper mouth.

The use of a flat feed plate results in very irregular feeding. While the displacement of a 40 flat plate is increasing with slowly decreasing generator pressure, the carbide is frequently bridged across the valve opening in such a manner that littleo-r no carbide is discharged. With increasing displacement there comes a time when discharging carbide ,thandoes a small mass .-of'

relatively static-nary carbide in the center of a "flat plate, and the movements of the coneare instrumental inpreventing bridging of the .car-

* the bridge breaks and permits the carbide, in

rapid enough, it is quite possible for a hazardous condition to develop, even though the generator contains thenormal amount of water, particularlyif it is possible for the carbide feeding plate to be blocked in wide open position; A much more dangerous condition is produced by free feeding of a considerable amount of carbide into the bottom of a generator from which the Water has been drained. If then water is admitted to the generator, dangerous heating is likely to take place, for when water is poured into a considerable mass of carbide a. temperature of 400 F. may readily be reached. The presence of air in the generator at the time may result in a severe explosion.

With the flat type of plate, if the maximum possible valve displacement is limited sufficiently to prevent free feeding, bridging will frequently become so serious as totally to obstruct thefurther discharge of carbide. Because of the greater tendency of a conical plate toward free feeding, the valve displacement mustbe rathernarrowly restricted when a conical plate is used, with the result that this type of plate also tends to obstruct the discharge at times.

'It is an objectof thisinvention to provide improved apparatus for controlling the feeding of carbide from the hopper of an acetylene generator so as to obtain a regular feed uninterrupted by choking and not subject to free feeding.

Another object of the invention is to make it possible ,to provide for relatively large valve displacements without danger -of free feeding.

.Another object of the invention is to improve the reliability of agitation and feeding at low gas flows from the generator. with this part of the invention, which is not necessarily limited to the preferred form of the .feed plate, the feed plate is agitated vertically.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the mechanism. In accordance with this part of the invention, the agitation is transmitted to the feed plate through the regulating lever which regulates the displacement of the plate. This embodiment of the invention'involves a special provision for insuring adequate rates of agitation In accordance 1 and fee-ding under all conditions of flow, including large gas fiows.

In another embodiment of the invention agitation of the carbide is effected by oscillatingthe feed plate about a vertical axis. In either case,

the agitation of the valve or valve plate is debodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 21-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, mostly in vertical section, showing a modified form of the invention; V a V Fig. 4 is a sectional View on Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating va modified form of the carbide feed valve. 7

The upper portion of the generator tank body 2 is of truncated conical shape and supports a carbide hopper 3. During the ordinary operation of the generator the tank body is filled with water 4 to the level indicated, and the space 5 is filled with gas. 7

A flange 6 is secured to the top edge of the tankv body. The hopper 3 is detachably fastened to this-flange by bolts I which pass through a the line 4-4 of a flange 8 of the carbide hopper. A sloping bottom 9 of the hopper has a broad feed opening ill beneath which is a feed plate I I. r

The feed plate or valve plate ll moves vertically to change the size of the opening between this plate and the lip of the spout at the feed opening Ill. In Figs. 1 and 2 the feed plate is agitated vertically, and this agitation causes the carbide to feed through the opening and drop into the water 4.

The feed or valve plate I I has a conical central portion l2 adapted to extend more orless into the opening Ill. The valve plate has a peripheral portion l3 which is fiat, as shown in Fig. 1, or

. slightly inclined as shown in Fig. 3. The change in slope between the portions l2 and l3 of the valve plate may be either abrupt or gradual.

The base of the conical portion is preferably smaller than the feed opening l0, and the relatively flat portion extends outward beneath the lip of the opening. 7

Nothing is accomplished by making thelbase of the conical portion larger than the inner di- 7 It is comparatively ing a slope of about 5 has been found togive the best results, but a flat peripheral. portion, such'as shown in Fig. 1, representing a slope of zero degrees may be used. 7

While a feed plate having a conical portion 7 surrounded by a comparatively fiat portion is preferred, the beneficial effects obtained with.

i ing in the gas limb.

'bears against a diaphragm plate 29. The pres such a plate may be approximated by using a feed plate 21!, the top of which is a concave surface of revolution of a curve, as shown in Fig. 5.

. With the feed plate of this invention, reasonably large valve displacements are possible without free feeding, and the movements of the conical portion agitate the carbide in the hopper mouth in such a manner as to lessen the tendency to choke or bridge at that region. The relatively flat peripheral portion [3 breaks the momentum of the carbide passing from the conical portion l2 and requires the combination of the weight of the carbide above and an agitation of the carbide adjacent. the feed plate to effect feeding of the carbide.

The valve plate H is loosely supported on an enlarged rounded head I! of a valve stem M A wide splash ring I9 is secured to the top of I ,the body and extends'downward close to the hollow casting 22 has one end threaded into the collar 20. This construction constitutes a laterally extending gas limb communicating. with the gas space of the generator. 7

An opening in the top of the gas limb is covered'by a diaphragm 26, which is clamped between a bonnet 27 and a seat around the open- A regulating spring 28 sure of this spring can be adjusted, to vary the working pressure of the generator, by an ad- ;justing screw 30 threaded through thetop of the bonnet and acting on a follower 3| which bears against the upper .end of the spring.

A relief valve bonnet 32 is preferably integral with the bonnet Z'L'and" covers a relief valve which includes, a diaphragm 33 pressed against the lip of an opening in the gas limb by a spring 34 acting against a diaphragm plate. A stem 35 extends from the diaphragm plate through the top ofthe bonnet 32 and can be raised to open the relief valve manually at any time. Gas

escapes'from 'within the bonnet 32 through a vent, not shown.

The under sideof the diaphragm 26 bears against a spring 38 carried by a cup 39 on a regulating lever 40. Forconvenience this springwill be termed the reserve spring. 'The inner end of this lever supports the valve stem H5, and'small movements of this lever controlled by the pressure-responsive;regulator device, which includes the diaphragm 26 and spring 28, move'the valve plate ll toward or fromthe hopper mouth and control the amount of carbide fed for a given 7 rate. of agitation. The regulating spring 28 acts on the lever 49 through the reserve spring 38,

Y which serves as an elastic thrust connection.

The lever' ifl is fulcrumed at its outer end on ball fulcrums i held in internal lugs 46 of the gas limb so that these fulcrums are fixed with respect'to the body of the generator. This end of the leveris preferably bifurcated. The actual lifting or closing of the feed plate II is effected means of a handleEll;

by a compensating-springs" 4-1;'compressedbetween the gas limb and: the bottom: side of the-lever 40'; The; regulating spring; 2'8 is stronger than the spring 41, and-whenever the pressurevin the: generator" drops: slightly the regulating spring 28. overcomes the spring M to; a corresponding extent and moves the lever down, causing; the feed plate 1 l-- to descend so. that the feed passage is somewhat enlarged. When the gas-pressure; rises it acts on the diaphragm 26 to press the regulating; spring 28- back slightly so that the-:spring l t lifts the val-veplatell.v and. decreases or even completely=closesthe feed passage.

The strengths of the reservespringtfi and the compensating spring 41 are so proportioned with respect to thelength of the lever arms, against which the springs are compressed that the springs exert substantially balanced. forces-on the lever. 40.

Thegenerator can be locked against feeding: by holdingthe valveplate I I closed against thelip of the mouth of the hopper. This is effected by the spring when the regulating: spring 28 is drawn back by raisinga stirrup bar 4.9 by- The stirrup bar passes through a'slot 51in a boss-52. secured to the-diaphragm plate 29; thisslot being high enough to. permit the diaphragm to riseand falLWithOutIbeing hinderedby the bar. Two vertical stirrup rods 53: are connected at their lower ends-with the bar, and extendupward-through openings in thefollower 3.! andin the top of the bonnet 2:1; Their upper ends-are connected to a'yoke 56-, which rests on a cam'55; from-which the..handle:-56;

, projects. The cam has inclined under surfaces 51 to coact'with inclined surfaces on the top of the bonnet so that by a partial turn of thehandie the diaphragm plate and the lower end of the regulating spring 28. can be drawn upward sufiiciently to permitthecompensating; spring 41: to close the plate H against the mouth ofrthe hopper and keep the valve tightly closed when thegenerator is not in use;

In thisembodiment of. the invention, an; ad'- justable bushing'58 is screwed" into the yoke 54- and bears on the cam 65. By means-of this-de-' vice, the opening of the carbide feed valve=(displacement ofthe feed plate) canrbeadjusted-tothat maximum degree which will notgpermit free a other.

feeding. When, with falling:generatorpressure,

the regulating spring-28 has depressed the dia'- phragm plate29 and the diaphragm-26 mm the top of'the s10t'5lof the-boss 52-bears against the stirrup bar iq as an abutmentmeans; the pressure of the regulating spring 28is sustainedtrigeidly by the stirrup, and the force of the spring 28' is no longer applied to the-control lever 46. The reserve spring 38 then reacts against the dia-' phragm and diaphragm plateas if against a-fixedabutment, and the position of the-lever' lil and of the valve plate ll, which'is supported-by the lever is determined by thebalanceofmoments, the reserve spring 38-andthe compensating springbearing against the lever inopposition to each If the springs 36 and 4'? are very accurately made so that, at this: equilibrium, the feed plate is. supported; ata maximum displace-- ment which will not admit of free feeding;. the adjusting device 53 could be omitted. Its utility is to enable the full open. position, which the feed plate can assume and still not'result in free" feeding, to be predeterminedfor each generator notwithstanding the variations of. ordinarymanufacturing tolerances. Naturally, meansmay'b'e provided for lockingthis'adjustment;

Thecarbide feed plate] his; agitated vto cause the carbide to. feed fromthe hopper at a" rate which is. partly dependent on the-displacement of; the-feed plate and partly on the rate; of agitatiom this latter being; in turn. dependent on the ;-rate-.;o f? flow of igaslfrom the generator: The feed; plate Hf iaagitatedby-a gas -motor-device 5.9. which ineludesapot 63 fixed to the-under side of the gas limb under an. opening. The pot is partially; filled with liquid through :afilling opening, whichds ordinarily-1 closed. by aplug 65. This opening; is; locatedat the desirable liquid level and prevents theipot: 53: from being; filled too. full.

A flexible diaphragm 66 is clamped-at its margin betweenthe gas limb and the pct 63. This diaphragm isr thus-exposed on its upper side to the-pressure in the generator, and on its under side to ther-pressuresof the gas above the liquid in the pot 6.3;. A gas outlet. passage 61 communicates-with. this; gas-space beneath the diaphragm: andcon-ducts; the gas to an'outlet pipe 68 leading; to the usual flash arresterinot shown) fromwhich the gas flowsto the service line. A splash-ring66 on; the. inside of: the pot 63, above thezliquidg catches; liquid which would otherwise be entrained by, the-risinggas and carried out through thegas, outlet, necessitating frequent replenishment of the sealing liquid.

A duct;69.:communicates with. the gas limb above the diaphragm 66.. and extends: belowthe diaphragm to a point near the bottom of the pct 63. When there: is no. gas pressure in the generator, the liquid in this duct 69 stands at the same height as; the liquid in" the pot. During generation and consumption of gas, the pressure of:.the:-gas in the generator depresses the liquid in; the duct; 69 until the gas escapes from the lower'endiof the-duct and bubbles up through the liquid in the pot 63 and passes to the outlet. 61.

, With each such; escape of gas into' the pot 63 the pressureabove the liquidtin the pot increases and. causesv thejliquid in the duct 69vto riser As gas flows through. the outlet 61, the pressure above theliquidin the pot againv decreases untilthere is-a=fresh-v escape of gas fromthe duct 69;

These dischargesof gas through theliquid seal occur'at short interval's,:.the frequency depending upon the consumption .fiow. The fluctuations in the pressure diiferentialv across the diaphragm 66? cause it. to flex up. and down; and this movement is: communicated to the feed plate H.

The. diaphragm 66'is connected; with a link 16-.

The upper end ofthis link isconnected with a lever- "i2 which-has'a:,.fulcrum"l4"on the gas limb valve plate H, is. permitted by the elasticity of the springs 38 and 41. Because of the presence of the reserve spring 38., the agitating action is not dampened. or hampered bythe necessity of overeoming. -the stiffness of the; regulating spring 28,. which must be strong enough to cope with the gas. pressure on the diaphragm 26. This is particularly-important when the, consumption of r for regulating the displacement of said feed plate,

gas from the generator is heavy, and the large outflow of gas calls for very active agitation of the feedplate. At'very low flows, the vertically agitated feed plate has an inherent advantage over other types of agitation, in that the mild or infrequent agitation which takes place under such conditions is nevertheless sufiicient, with 7 vertical agitation, to insure that feeding of carbide will not entirely cease.

The agitation of the lever 12 may be caused by other types of gas motor devices than that described; Other suitable gas motor devices are disclosed in my PatentsNos. 1,969,121, 1,967,293 and 1,9612%. 7

Figs. 3 and 4 show mechanism for oscillating a valve plate Hi, of the novel form described in the earlier part of i this specification, about a vertical axis as in my aforesaid patents.

The valve-oscillating mechanism shown in Fig.

3 is similar to that in Patent No. 1,967,293, and includes a bell-crank ill) having a pivot fulcrum i'li' supported by a lever I60. One arm of the bell-crank is connected to the link It and the other arm connects with a link I15 which'extends through the gas limb and terminates in an ,upwardly extending end portion I80. This end of the link H5 is supportedlirom the lever I46 by a pin I82. 7 a

A link A84 is eccentrically connected to the valve plate i H by a pivot connection I86. The end of the link I84 remote from the valve plate is formed in a loop and fits over the upwardly extending end of the link I15. A collar ltli on the link H5 supports the looped end of the link i8 3.

The lever Mil is moved to open and close, and to regulate the displacement 'of, the valve Hi by mechanism similar to that already described, and difiers from the mechanism shown inFig. l in that the reserve spring 38 and cup 39 are. omitted and a projection I89 on the under side of the diaphragm 26 bears directly against a boss on the lever M0. Also, the adjusting device 58 is omit ted. In this instance, the maximum opening of the valve III is limited by the enlarged head of the valve stem M abutting against the hub of the spider I5 and preventing further downward movement of the valve feed plate I I 1. before it has opened wide enough to permit free feeding.

As in my prior patents, the supporting of the feed plate on the head of a separate valve stem M, which enters a cavity in the bottom of the feed plate, enables the feed plate to tilt universally in response to the action of the carbide being fed and thus adjust itself to feeding conditions, with results that are beneficial. The rounded head I? in the cavity of the plate is more desirable than the point contactshown in prior patents. In the case of a feed plate which is agitated by oscillating it about'the vertical axis, the rounded head affords an element of friction which makes for steadier action. 9

Various changes and -modifications may be made in the form of execution of the features of the invention.

I claim: i

1. An acetylene generator including a carbide hopper, a feed plate at the mouthrof the hopper, a lever operatively' connected with the feed plate a fulcrum for said lever, pressure-operated means connected with the lever at a substantialdistance from said fulcrum for moving the lever to control the feed plate displacement, and other means operatively connected with the lever at a substantial distance from the fulcrum and from the connection of the lever with the feed plate for agitating said lever to agitate the feed plate.

2. In anacetylene generator having a body, a carbide hopper, a valve movable toward and from the hopper'mouth to control the rate ;of feed of carbide from the hopper, pressure operated means fixed to the generator for controlling the extent of opening of the valve, other'means for agitat-' ing the valve, a common lever connecting the controlling means and the agitating means with the feed valve, said lever extending transversely of the direction of movement of the valve toward and from the hopper mouth, and a fulcrum for said lever fixed with respect to the body of the generator. 7 r

3. In an acetylene generator, the combination with a carbide hopper having a feed opening; of a feed plate beneath said opening; a lever supporting said feed plate; a compensating spring acting upon said lever'to raise the'feed plate when the gas pressure increases; a device including a regulating spring effective to move said lever inoppositi'on to said compensating spring when the gas pressure decreases; a reserve spring interposed between said gas-pressure responsive device and said lever; a gas-operated agitator;

and mechanism for applying the agitation of said agitator to said lever,ito agitate said feed plate. 7

l. In an acetylene generator, the combination with a carbide hopper having a feed opening; or a feed plate beneath said opening and movable toward and from the opening to control the discharge-of carbide from the hopper; a regulating lever extending transversely, of the direction of movement of the feed plate and operatively connected with the feed plate; a fulcrum for said lever; and means for rocking the regulating lever about its fulcrum to raise and lower said feed plate, including gas-pressure responsive means to regulate the displacement of the feed plate; a gas-operated agitator; and means for transmitting vibration from the agitator to the feed plate through the regulating lever including a lever connected to' said agitator and'having contact with said regulating lever.

5. In an acetylene generator, a carbide hopper; a feed plate beneath the mouth of the hopper; a substantiallyvertical valve stem having a rounded head supporting thefeed plate for tilting movement in all directions about a horizontal axis and oscillation about the axis of the valve stem; means for agitating the feed 'plate; and mechanism for moving the-valve stem to regulate the displacement of the feed plate from the hopper mouth. 4

6. An acetylene generator including in combination, a carbide hopper having a feed opening; a vertically agitated feed plate for controlling the feeding of carbide, from the hopper; a regulating lever operably'connected with the feed plate, feed plate operating means for moving said lever to raise and lower the feed plate to control its'displacement from the hopper opening, and

other means operably connected withthe lever an agitating device; a common lever for transmitting motion of said mechanism, and agitation of said agitating device, to the feed plate; and a fulcrum for the lever; said mechanism and said agitating device being connected with the lever at a distance from the fulcrum.

8. In an acetylene generator, a carbide hopper; a feed plate located beneath the mouth of the hopper and having a central conical portion for preventing arching in the hopper mouth, and a peripheral portion of less slope adapted to pre-, vent free feeding of the carbide, a substantially vertical valve stem having a rounded head supporting the feed plate for tilting movement in all directions about a horizontal axis andoscillation about the axis of the valve stem; means for agitating the feed plate; and mechanism for moving the valve stem to regulate the displacement of the feed plate from the hopper mouth.

9. An acetylene generator including in combination, a carbide hopper having a feed opening; a vertically agitated feed plate for controlling the feeding of carbide from the hopper, said feed plate having a central conical portion for breaking up arching of the carbide in the feed opening and having a peripheral portion of less slope adapted to prevent free feeding of the carbide; a regulating lever operatably connected with the feed plate, feed plate operating means for moving said lever to raise and lower the feed plate to control its displacement from the hopper opening, and other means operably connected with the lever for transmitting agitations through the lever to the feed plate, and a fulcrum for said lever spaced from its connections with the raising and lowering means and the agitating means.

10. An acetylene generator including a car bide hopper, a feed plate at the mouth of the hopper, said feed plate including a central conical portion extending into the hopper mouth, a lever operatively connected with the feed plate for regulating the displacement of said feed plate, a fulcrum for said lever, pressure-operated means connected with the lever at a substantial distance from said fulcrum for moving the lever to control the feed plate displacement, said feed plate including a peripheral portion of less slope than the central portion, the slope and extent 7 of the peripheral portion being of such a nature that said peripheral portion prevents free feeding of the carbide when the feed plate isv in its position of maximum displacement, and other means operatively connected with the lever at a substantial distance from the fulcrum and from the connection of the lever with the feed plate for agitating said lever to agitate the feed plate.

11. In an acetylene generator having a body, a carbide hopper, a valve movable toward and from the hopper mouth to control the rate of feed of carbide from the hopper, pressure operated means fixed to the generator for controlling the extent of opening of the valve, said valve having a central conical portion that projects into the hopper mouth, and a peripheral portion of less slope than the central portion, said peripheral portion having an extent and slope that prevents free feeding of the carbide when the valve is in its wide-open position, other means for agitating the valve, a common lever connecting the controlling means and the agitating means with the feed valve, said lever extending transversely of the direction of movement of the valve toward and from the hopper mouth, and a fulcrum for said lever fixed with respect to the body of the generator.

GEORGE M. DEMING. 

